We were very excited about the government’s lifting of Covid restrictions, but after careful consideration we have decided for the safety of our users and volunteers not to open for the moment, but we will review this decision in mid-August, but in the meantime the library can still keep you reading with its click and collect scheme - see below.

Join the Wild World Heroes this summer with the Summer Reading Challenge

Our library might be closed, but through our “Click & Collect” scheme we will once more be running the summer reading challenge for all children up to the age of 12, with all the usual prizes including stickers, book mark, fridge magnet, a certificate & medal ! plus the chance to win one of 15 paint your own wooden bug houses. Entry is free !

The Summer Reading Challenge is an annual event. Children are encouraged to read six (or more) books of their choice during the summer holidays with collectable incentives and rewards, plus a certificate for every child who completes the Challenge.

What’s the theme for 2021?

Go wild for reading with the Summer Reading Challenge! For this year’s Challenge The Reading Agency has partnered with WWF to create ‘Wild World Heroes’ which will inspire children to take action for nature and the environment. Join the Wild World Heroes for an exciting adventure in the fictional town of ‘Wilderville’. Through reading books, collecting rewards and learning all about our planet, Challenge participants will help the Heroes make Wilderville a greener place to live. With exclusive incentives to collect and plenty of brilliant books to enjoy, the Challenge is the perfect summer activity to build young readers’ skills and confidence during the long break from school.

Who can take part?

• The Summer Reading Challenge is aimed at children aged up to 12 years and is designed for all reading interests and abilities.

How do children sign up?

• Joining in with the Summer Reading Challenge is easy and free. If you are ordering books by email, please lets us know the children that are taking part so that we can register them. If you send us a paper order form then please tell us on the form. When you return books let us know which books each child has read so that we can prepare their prizes with your next order (they get prizes for ever two books they read) All children welcome – if you are not a member we will enrol you !
• As well as registering with us, children can sign up and create their own profile at https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/news/general/wild-world-heroes-intro

What books can children read?

• They can read anything that makes them happy – whether stories, picture books, poetry or jokes. Sharing a book with a parent or carer is fine as well.

Following recent clarification by the government of the rules for operating “click & collect” during the Corona Virus lockdown, we feel able to offer a book ordering / collection scheme to our readers.

We have a library full of amazing books and we are sure you are all desperate for a good read, including many of our older readers who are going to have to self-isolate for an extended period.

We are starting a new book ordering / collection service, to get these books to our many readers including those in self-isolation.

We will not be delivering books because of the health risks involved, but they can be collected at prearranged time slots from the library and those in self-isolation can ask a carer, friend or neighbour, to pick them up for them

So how will it work – firstly you will have to choose your books. You can access our catalogue online plus a listing of our book purchases for 2019/20 here: Library book catalogue

Once you have chosen your books you can then fill this form out with your choices: Order Form   At the top right hand side of the page you can either use the print icon to print out a copy of the form, or the download icon to download a copy in Word format and email it to us or drop it through the library letterbox. Blank forms will also be available for collection from the porch outside the library anytime.

Books will be ready for collection from the library 48 hours after we receive your request, but please tell us the day you are collecting so that we make sure we have your order ready.

From a safety point of view, orders will be collected from the front of the library, or if a nice day, a table on the pavement. Returns will be placed in a tray and will be quarantined for 72 hours before being returned to the library shelves. Users will not be able to enter the library and browse the shelves during this emergency.

We will be open for collections Tuesday – Saturday between 3.00-4.30pm.

This offer is open to everyone even if you are not a current member of the library – If you are not a member, we will have to ask you for a bit more information with your initial request so that we can issue you with a library card.

Finally, we want to try and get to as much of the community as possible some of whom won’t have access to the internet.

Please pass this offer onto your friends and neighbours, and help those who are less computer savvy to take advantage of it.

You can get in touch with us by email with any questions, queries or suggestions as to how we can make this offer even better.

UPDATE Garden Suburb Community Library has had a very successful launch of our click and collect book collection scheme, but we have found that a number of our older readers are having problems accessing our website and catalogue http://gardensuburblibrary.org.uk/gscl/

If you would like to order books but are having trouble selecting them please call us between 2.00-3.30pm Tuesday - Saturday at the library and we will help you with your selection 020 8458 3301, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. anytime.

***Collection time extended to 4.30pm***

***We can print for you - email for details***

*** libraries are able to consider opening again from April 12th 2021. We will explore resuming normal activities in the coming months taking into account government legislation and the safety of our volunteers and users, and will keep you in touch with our plans, but in the mean time the library can still keep you reading with it’s click and collect scheme. ***

Our library system is very user friendly with lots of features and you can read all about it in our short guide here

Sing Song time recorded at Garden Suburb Community Library
Virginia has run an amazingly successful Sing Song Time at Garden Suburb Community Library on Thursdays, for a number of years

Especially for the many children confined to their homes for the foreseeable future Virginia recorded a special Sing Song Time just for you !

You can access it here: Sing Song time recorded at Garden Suburb Community Library

For those reading this who are not members of the library, it is based in a very special area – Hampstead Garden Suburb in North West London. The library is run by 40 volunteers.

Virginia would be delighted if you would pass this link on to friends and family and do post it on social media

Virginia would also love to receive feedback either by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on through Facebook @gardensuburbcommunitylibrary or Twitter @HGScLibrary

FREE TODDLER FUN AT THE COMMUNITY LIBRARY (suspended for the moment - we will be back!)

On Thursdays we run two sessions of Sing Song Time, 10 - 10:30am and 10:45 to 11:15am. Sing Song Time is a first library activity for under threes and their carers.  The aim is for the children to join in the singing, as well as have fun. We sing familiar songs every week and the children are encouraged to join in both the music and movement, gradually building up their confidence.

On Tuesday we run Story / Song Time from 10:15 to 10:45am. We welcome toddlers and their carers into a warm, friendly group. We provide rhythm and rhyme making activities alongside both new and familiar songs, and an introduction into the world of exciting and boundless stories beyond home provision.

Come and join us for some fun with your little ones !